Effects of hybrid peripheral neuromuscle stimulation on motor recovery of upper extremity early after stroke

2021 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K11355
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Saitama Medical University (2021); Dokkyo Medical University (2019-2020)
• Principal Investigator: Obayashi Shigeru 埼玉医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (90318246)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2022-03-31
• Keywords: 脳卒中 / 上肢麻痺 / 脳可塑性 / ニューロモデュレーター / 急性期

Outline of Final Research Achievements

We aimed to investigate the effects of neuromodulators, such as neuromuscular stimulation (NMES) and repetitive peripheral magnetic stimulation (rPMS) on severe UE paresis during early acute phase of stroke. Outcome measures included UE motor section of the Fugl-Meyer Motor Assessment Scale (FMA-UE), Wolf motor function test (WMFT), and box and block test (BBT). To adjust the different treatment durations, we defined “progress rate” as the gains of UE function scores divided by treatment duration. The progress rate was significantly different in FMA-UE and WMFT, but not in BBT. We demonstrated the favorable effects of both neuromodulators (coupled EMG-triggered NMES and cyclic NMES or rPMS) on severe upper extremity (UE) function for early acute phase patients with stroke by showing a significant facilitation of UE motor recovery when applied neuromodulators to affected UE compared with standard care group.

Free Research Field

ニューロリハビリテーション

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

急性期病院では、短い期間で回復期病院や施設に転院するか自宅退院することになることから、その短期間で短時間介入でも効果が期待できる方法論の確立が待望されている。もし急性期において重度の上肢運動障害に有効な方法が開発されれば多くの患者の上肢機能回復に貢献できADL拡大と社会参加促進が実現できるであろう。